One of the benefits of having a healthy roster is that the coach has choices.
How he uses that decision making power is another question. At the moment, Hansi Flick is evaluating his players one game at a time, and based on performances, choosing who gets the start.
This has been possibly recently, because finally, most of the team is fit and available.
The results are starting to roll in, and so far, meritocracy, as manifested through the eyes of the manager, is working.
Frenkie de Jong and Robert Lewandowski
have started from the bench in the last two league games. Ferran Torres and Eric Garcia have been that good. Why change what’s working?
It doesn’t mean we won’t see more of Frankie and Lewandowski in the future. These are two legends of the game, and they will be ready to go the next time their number is called. What this means is that, for now, while Ferran is scoring goals and playing with fire in his belly, and so long as Eric continues performing well in the defensive midfield, they are the rightful choices.
If their forms dips, and Frenkie and Lewandowski take advantage of their next opportunity, then the let them continue to play.
We saw this earlier in the season too when the choice was between Fermin Lopez and Dani Olmo. Both players have had their moments, and they are holding each other to higher standards knowing that they need to compete at a high level for their spot on the field.
Ideally, at some point, the cream rises to the top, and Flick will get a consistent run of games with what’s revealed as his best starting eleven.
At the while, he knows there will be hungry players on the best eager to take advantage of their next chance, whether it’s because of injury, tactics, or a drop in form.
This can also be used to his advantage with in game management. Flick didn’t hesitate to insert Marcus Rashford at half-time against Eintracht Frankfurt. He came in and was the solution. On Saturday, against Osasuna, he once again got his team going with a great assist to Ferran Torres, that was unfortunately taken back because of a peculiar offsides call early in the sequence.
We all thought that Rashford was back to the bench with the return of Raphinha. Not so fast. It will depend on who is performing going forward. That’s a great place to be if you’re Barcelona.
Meritocracy means fairness. There are no favorites of the coach. That energizes and motivates a dressing room, rather than creating bitterness.
Let’s hope this continues.
Barcelona is having a strong close to the year. Night and day compared to last December.
January will be telling. You have the Spanish Supercopa, Copa del Rey, and two big Champions League games before the knockouts begin.
Now we will see what this iteration of Barcelona is all about.
Who’s going to be on the field will depend on the hard work and desire of the players.
That’s a formula for success you can bet on.
